A27054:438
The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…
The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness of it, and the detection of false dividing terms / opened by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. 10. IV. And it is only things of Divine Authority that can be the necessary terms of universal Unity or Concord, supposing the necessary media of bringing them to mens notice: Had we lived in the time and place where Christ and his Apostles did preach and work their Miracles, it had been one thing to determine what were then preached as the necessary articles of faith, and another thing, how we come to hear, know and understand them: It must have been by our ears, eyes and intellects, that we knew and perceived what was said and done. And so now standing at the distance of many ages, certain history, or tradition ⟨p. 141⟩must bring that to our notice, which our eyes and ears would then have brought to it: But still the Law and terms of Union are no less Divine, whatever means do help us to understand them: And as for them that will make humane terms seem necessary to Catholic Union or Communion, that they deceive themselves and others and shall never attain the end, but tear the Church by such ill engines, is easily thus proved.
§. 10. IV. And it is only things of Divine Authority that can be the necessary terms of universal Unity or Concord, supposing the necessary media of bringing them to mens notice: Had we lived in the time and place where Christ and his Apostles did preach and work their Miracles, it had been one thing to determine what were then preached as the necessary articles of faith, and another thing, how we come to hear, know and understand them: It must have been by our ears, eyes and intellects, that we knew and perceived what was said and done. And so now standing at the distance of many ages, certain history, or tradition ⟨p. 141⟩must bring that to our notice, which our eyes and ears would then have brought to it: But still the Law and terms of Vnion are no less Divine, whatever means do help us to understand them: And as for them that will make humane terms seem necessary to Catholick Vnion or Communion, that they deceive themselves and others and shall never attain the end, but tear the Church by such ill engines, is easily thus proved.